Carter's Savior

Three

(This is Z)

Carter's POV

The closer we get to this house the more I feel myself freak out. Why? Because I was seeing HIM again, and I had not seen HIM in two years. And now I'm regretting my fucking outfit choice. Of jeans and a sweatshirt. I should have dressed I don't know...better.

Sean parked the car and my body went into overdrive. My heart was racing and my hands were getting sweaty. Why was I nervous? I'm never nervous. FUCK. What is happening to me?

Sean and Addison jumped out of the car and met Dad and Pops, but Addi hung behind to walk with me.

"Are you okay?" She whispered to me and I nodded. She was the more observant one of the bunch. And one of the few people who genuinely cared about me. No one else in this damn family does.

I knew Sean hated that I was becoming alpha and not him. He felt he deserved it because he was blood...blood of both our dads. Not just one.

When he first told me that it hurt. Badly. I was 17 when I found out how my brother truly felt about me. And though we were in an argument and it was in the heat of the moment our relationship changed then. Though it wasn't like it was anything special before. That statement was all I needed to confirm what I already felt. I was wanted by my family. And no matter what I did to try and rectify the relationships...they always got worse.

Sean of course never apologized and I have never forgiven him. There is no need. Plus our fathers don't know but I don't think they would care about that anyway. If anything they'd find a way to take Sean's side and I'm left being the bad guy...again.

Even though it was years ago, it still sat in the back of my mind. It was an ever-present reminder that I was different. That I was a black man in a white family. That I was a Lycan surrounded by werewolves. That it was no longer just my dad and I. 

I don't know. 

Shit is sad, to say the least.

But that's why I love visiting the Mickayas and I loved Uncle Koa. He was mixed too and he could understand me in a way that my dads couldn't. And his family...they all looked like me. Not saying I didn't feel welcomed when I was with my own family. I didn't feel anything with my own family. Especially when my GG passed away. That's when I was left in a family full of strangers. GG is the only person who ever tried to get to know me. 

My dad was amazing when it came to black culture and immersing me when I was younger. He learned all that he could, but it all stopped as I got older. Well, it stopped once we moved. He didn't try anymore. So GG took it upon herself to learn and then she taught me. It just wasn't...the same between us. No matter how badly I wanted it to be.

Before Dad could even knock on the door, it was swung open by a very excited Ezra.

"My man!" He yelled as walked further out. He wrapped his arms around me in a hug which I immediately returned.

Sloan may be Sean's best friend. 

But Ezra was mine.

"Look at you and your hair." I pulled away to see that Ezra had shaved his head. A buzz cut. I was used to his thick curly mess.

"Shaved it once Sloan got here. Wanted to match him." 

I will say I was jealous of their relationship. It was a relationship I wish I had with Sean. But there's no use in hoping for such things.

"Uncle Dieter. Uncle Crispin, good to see you as always. Come in come in." Ezra said quickly letting us in. They offered him a small smile and I tried to ignore the twinge of jealousy that tried to make an appearance.